The New York Giants improved their playoff chances with a 20-12 win over NFC East rivals the Commanders

The New York Giants boosted their playoff chances with a 20-12 win over division rivals the Washington Commanders on Sunday night.

Kayvon Thibodeaux retaliated with his strip sack fumble and scored, and Saquon Barkley added a rushing touchdown to lead the Giants to victory over the hosts in the Crunch NFC East Showdown.

The win gives the Giants (8-5-1) a one-game lead and the tiebreaker over the Commanders (7-6-1) with three games remaining as both find themselves in a tight multi-team NFC wildcard race . Washington and the Giants played December 4 at MetLife Stadium to a 20-20 draw.

The New York Giants increased their playoff chances with a 20-12 win over Washington

Defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (right) returned his strip sack fumble to score

Running back Saquon Barkley (right) added a quick touchdown to lead the Giants to victory

Daniel Jones was 21-to-32, passing for 160 yards, in addition to 35 yards on 10 carries. Barkley rushed for 87 yards with 18 carries and Richie James had four catches for 42 yards.

For Washington, Taylor Heinicke was 17-to-29 with a 249-yard pass and a score, while Brian Robinson Jr. rushed for 89 yards with 12 carries. Jahan Dotson had four catches for 109 yards and a touchdown, and Terry McLaurin added six receptions for 70 yards.

The Commanders were down 14-3 at halftime, moving to 14-9 on Heinicke’s 19-yard strike against Jahan Dotson 8-38 in the third quarter. Joey Slye missed the extra point kick.

QB Daniel Jones was 21-to-32, passing for 160 yards and rushing for 35 yards on 10 carries

Graham Gano’s 50-yard field goal increased the Giants’ lead to 17-9 with 3-11 in the third quarter before Slye’s 51-yarder made it 17-12 with 12-31 in the game.

After Heinicke’s fumble at the Giants New York 9-yard line returned the ball with just over six minutes left, the Giants ended their possession with Gano’s 50-yard field goal for a 20-12 lead at 1: 55 before the end.

The Commanders drove to the Giants’ 1-yard with a minute left, but after an illegal formation penalty nullified Robinson’s touchdown run, Heinicke threw two incompletions to turn the ball on downs.

Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke was a 17-to-29 pass for 249 yards and a score

After the Commanders took a 3-0 lead on Slye’s 41-yard field goal with 2:51 left in the first quarter, the Giants’ defense gave New York a definitive lead early in the second quarter.

With the Redskins facing an early second and 18 from their own 10-yard line, Thibodeaux punched left tackle Charles Leno Jr. around the edge. The rookie linebacker knocked the ball out of Heinicke’s hand, picked it up at the 1-yard line and ran into the end zone, giving the Giants a 7-3 advantage with a 13-10 first-half lead.

The Giants extended their lead to 14-3 when Barkley’s 3-yard touchdown run finished an 18-play, 97-yard drive 1:43 at the half.